Dental Assistant

ID : 75687

Description: The Dental Assisting Program prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest growing healthcare professions – Dental Assisting. With the national increase in healthcare-related services, and the national shortage of healthcare professionals, the need for dental assistants is growing substantially. With a growing workforce over 300,000 strong, a career in dental assisting ranks as the fourth fastest growing occupation in the healthcare technician field. To meet our nation’s growing medical demands, recent studies indicate that over 400,000 assistants will be employed by 2018.

The Dental Assisting Program prepares students for entry-level positions as a chair-side dental assistant. This course covers the history of dentistry, introduction to the dental office, the legal aspects of dentistry, introduction to oral anatomy, dental operatory, introduction to tooth structure (primary and permanent teeth), the oral cavity; and other areas. Program also includes an optional clinical externship at a local healthcare provider!

The purpose of this program is to familiarize students with all areas of administrative and clinical dental assisting focusing on the responsibilities required to function as an assistant in a dental practice. This course covers the following key areas and topics:• Introduction to the dental office and history of dentistry and dental assisting• Legal aspects of dentistry including policies and guidelines• Introductory oral anatomy, dental operatory, and dental equipment• Introductory tooth structure including primary and permanent teeth• The oral cavity and related structures• Dental hand-pieces, sterilization, and other areas

Dental Assisting Detailed Course Information: • The dental assisting profession and the history of Dental anatomy and physiology• Tooth charting, tooth surfaces, and classification of restorations on a tooth• Parts of the jaw and areas of the mouth• Oral health and preventions of dental disease• Infection control in dentistry and occupational health and safety• Patient information and assessment• Foundation of clinical dentistry• Dental radiology• Single crown restoration, bridge, implant, partial denture, and full denture• Dental equipment, accessories and the treatment room• Dental hand pieces and accessories• Dental cements and impression materials• Coding of radiology services and the use of ICD-9-CM codes• Assisting in comprehensive dental care• Dental administration and communication skills

Instructor Description: This program is supported by an expert educational mentor, Patrice Arevalo. Patrice has a degree in medical assisting from The Career College of Northern Nevada as well as a degree in dental assisting from the Community College of the Air Force. She is available to provide guidance and motivation for learners throughout the duration of this program. As an expert mentor, she will provide answers to learner questions, monitor learner's program progression, and review lesson and program quiz/test results.

Certification: Upon successful completion of this program students will be prepared to sit for the included certification exams. The DANB’s RHS exam is a component exam of both the NELDA and CDA certifications. The DANB’s ICE exam is a component exam of NELDA, CDA and COA certifications. There are no eligibility requirements for taking the RHS or ICE exams, so you can take them at any time.

RequirementsIncluded in this program are the following textbooks: • Pearson’s Comprehensive Dental Assisting

Lesson 1Upon successful completion of this program, learners will display proficiency in the following areas:• Dental Anatomy and Physiology• Tooth charting, tooth surfaces, and classifications of restorations on the tooth• Parts of the jaw and areas of the mouth• Oral health and preventions of dental diseases• Dental radiology• Dental equipment and accessories• Single crown restoration, bridge, implant, partial denture, and full denture• Dental cements and impression materials• Dental administration and communication skills• Assisting in comprehensive dental care